Aquarium water changing and water stabilization system

ABSTRACT

An aquarium water changing and stabilization system consists of an initial tank designed to stabilize and condition water before it is entered into a subsequent tank that contains live aquatic animals such as fish. This system has a cabinet that is designed to aesthetically enclose, protect and support the components of the aquarium while providing access to the system. Water is introduced into the system from existing hot and cold water plumbing which is connected to this system. Water exits from this system into existing sewerage plumbing which is also connected to this system. Conditioned water from the conditioning tank enters the main fish tank via plumbing from one tank to the other. In case too much water is introduced to either tank, overflow drains in both tanks prevent water from overflowing over the top of either tank. Plumbing check valves and ball valves create safe and easy plumbing.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/615,577,filed Jul. 8, 2003, currently pending.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The inventor, who is an aquarium enthusiast, noted that it is difficultto change a substantial amount of water in a medium to large aquarium.For example, not having running water that runs directly into theaquarium system requires one to use pails and hoses that can cause amess. Also, taking water directly from an exterior source andintroducing it into the aquarium can be detrimental to the health of theliving organisms in the aquarium. By attaching a second tank to the mainaquarium tank through which water can be transferred, water can beconditioned and stabilized in the secondary tank before being introducedinto the main aquarium tank. Also, by attaching an overflow and drainagesystem from both tanks to an existing sewer connection, allows for fastand safe removal of unwanted aquarium water. Redundant check valves andball valves must be strategically placed to prevent backflow, valvefailure backup and easy use.

As with most medium to large aquarium cabinetry, structural integrityand functionality are important so as to provide support and easyaccessibility for the total aquarium system. In this present invention,the second water conditioning and stabilization tank is located abovethe main aquarium tank which is a gravity-flow water changing system.Plumbing runs behind and below both tanks.

The cabinet is designed to support the weight of both tanks when fulland allow proper access to all working components of the aquarium.

This invention allows aquarium water to be easily stabilized andconditioned before being introduced into the main aquarium tank andallows for water to be easily and quickly drained from the aquariumwhile supporting all the components of the aquarium in a modular cabinetunit that provides easy access to all the important components of theaquarium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification drawings, all of which disclose non-limitingembodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a close up view of the valve for the top tank of the aquariumfrom a perspective slightly above and to the right of the aquarium.

FIG. 2 is a right side sectional view of the overflow drainage plumbingonly for the aquarium.

FIG. 3 is a sectional right side view of the plumbing that leads fromthe bottom of the top tank into the back of the lower tank thatintroduces conditioned water into the lower main fish tank. The splashguard that buffers the water entering into the lower main fish tank isvisible at the very bottom of this figure.

FIG. 4 is a sectional front view of the tanks, tank shelves and plumbingonly.

FIG. 5 shows a view of the aquarium from a perspective of slightly aboveand to the left of the front of the aquarium and cabinet.

FIG. 6 is a sectional front view of all aquarium plumbing only from aperspective slightly above and to the right of the aquarium.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a saltwater or freshwater mixing tank andaquarium environmental control system which is designed to exchange usedwater for pre-conditioned and stabilized water and can be used toquickly drain the main fish tank for easy cleaning and refilling. Thisinvention is designed to connect to existing plumbing both drainage andwater supply at the location that the aquarium is installed. Secondly,the current invention requires a cabinet that provides access to thecomponents of the aquarium and proper support. The present invention isdesigned as a complete modular unit that does not allow for variousembodiments within the design of the aquarium. Instead, all of thenecessary aquarium components are designed and assembled to worktogether when connected to existing plumbing. The present invention is amanual aquarium water changing and water stabilization system. Futuredesigns will allow for other tank position setups and aesthetics.

As depicted in FIG. 1 the present invention includes ½ inch coppersupply lines 1, for hot and cold water. A valve body 2, that isbracketed to the left side of the cabinet mixes hot and cold water whichexits thru the neck of the valve 3.

As depicted in FIG. 4 the top water change tank 32, can be filled withwater that will empty into the main fish tank 38, thru piping system(see FIG. 3) that empties from the bottom of the water change tank 32and exits into the top of the main fish tank 38. In the case of anoverfilling of the tanks, an 1.5 inch overflow drain piping system (seeFIG. 2) allows for proper overflow drainage for both tanks.

As depicted in FIG. 2 the present invention includes an overflowdrainage flange 4 that secures a horizontal 2.3 inch length of 1.5 inchpipe 5, to the back of the upper part of the top water change tank (FIG.4, 32). In FIG. 2, this pipe empties into a vertical 90.degree. teeconnector 6, which connects to a vertical segment of pipe that servesboth as a connector and vent opening for the overflow drain system. Twovertical segments of pipe 7 are connected with a vertical 90.degree. teeconnector 10, the top vertical pipe segment is approximately 20 incheslong and the bottom vertical pipe segment is approximately 26 incheslong. The segments of pipe and the 90.degree. tee connector total 47.5inches. A 1.5″ diameter double threaded bulkhead fitting 8, is putthrough the back of the upper part of the main fish tank (FIG. 4, 38)and is connected to a horizontal ⅔ inch length of 1.5″ diameter pipe 9which connects to the vertical 90.degree. tee 10.

The bottom of the 47.5 inch vertical overflow pipe segment 7 connects toa horizontal 90.degree. tee connector 17. Main fish tank water emptiesfrom a drain at the bottom of the main fish tank (FIG. 4, 38). Asdepicted in FIG. 2, a 1.5″ diameter double threaded bulkhead goesthrough the bottom of the main fish tank and connects to a verticalpiece of pipe 12 that contains an inner check valve 13, to preventbackflow. This vertical drain pipe segment 12 is connected to a verticalprimary ball valve 14 with a total length of 4 inches for both items 12and 14, that is connected to a 1.5 inch elbow 15, pointing to the backof the aquarium and connects to a horizontal secondary ball valve 16,which connects to the front of the horizontal tee connector 17, at thebase of the vertical overflow main pipe 7. A horizontal piece of pipe18, connects to the back of the tee connector 17, which is to beconnected to existing plumbing. Items 16, 17 and 18 have an approximatetotal length of 7 inches. To empty water into from the top water changetank (FIG. 4, 32) into the lower main fish tank (FIG. 4, 38) a ¾ inchpipe system (see FIG. 3) is used.

As depicted in FIG. 3, a drain flange 19, at the bottom of the top waterchange tank (FIG. 4, 32) connects and secures a 3.5 inch vertical pipesegment 20, that contains a check valve 21, to prevent backflow from thelower main fish tank (FIG. 4, 38). In FIG. 3 this vertical pipe segment20 connects to an elbow 22, and points towards the back of the aquarium.The elbow 22 connects to a horizontal pipe segment 23, and a ball valve24, that have a combined length of 3 inches. This segment connects to anelbow 25, and points downward and connects to a vertical nine inchlength of pipe 26. At the bottom of pipe 26, an elbow 27, is connectedpointing towards the front of the aquarium. This elbow 27, is connectedto a 1.5 inch length of horizontal pipe 28, that goes thru upper part ofthe back of the main fish tank (FIG. 4, 38). In FIG. 3, pipe 28 connectsto an elbow 29 that points downward and allows water to run over asplash guard 30, to buffer the entry of water into the bottom main fishtank (FIG. 4, 38).

FIG. 4 is a sectional front view of the shelves, tanks, and plumbing inthe aquarium. The outer cabinet walls, top, bottom and cabinet supportshave been hidden in this view to reveal the interior parts of theaquarium. Only the upper shelf 43, and the lower shelf 45, are parts ofthe cabinet. The water change tank 32, has a top tank wall restraintcap, with two equally spaced 18.5″.times.14″ water access cutouts. Thetank wall retainer 31, extends down and around the top of the waterchange tank 32, by one inch and has a two inch cross piece to addstrength to the top of the tank. On the back wall of the water changetank 32, two inches down and three inches in from the right side of thetank (from a front view perspective) is the center of a 1.5″ diameterhole 35, that serves as access for the overflow plumbing into the backof the tank and allows excess water to drain out of the tank. The flatbottom of the water change tank 33, and a bottom tank wall retainer 34,goes around the rim of the bottom of the tank raising the tank up offthe shelf 43, by about ¾'s of an inch to prevent condensation on thebottom of the tank. The shelf that the water change tank rests on is50″.times.1″.times.22″ and has an 8.7″.times.5.8″ cutout 44, four inchesfrom the right side of the shelf and ¾'s of an inch from the back of theshelf. This cutout allows space for the water change tank 32, transferline (see FIG. 3) that leads into the main fish tank 38. Three inchesfrom the back of the water change tank and five inches from the leftside of the water change tank is the center of a ¾″ circular hole 36,that allows the water change tank transfer line to be connected to thebottom of the water change tank via a threaded flange.

Also, in FIG. 4, the main fish tank 38, that has a dimension of48″.times.24″.times.18″, rests on a 50″.times.1″.times.22″ lower shelf45, that has a 9″.times.6.5″ cutout 46, that starts two inches from theright side of the lower shelf 45, and ¾'s of an inch from the back ofthe shelf. This cutout allows the main fish tank 38, overflow plumbingto go through the shelf 45, and attach to the main fish tank waste line(see FIG. 2). The main fish tank 38 has a top tank wall restraint cap37, with two equally spaced 20″.times.16″ water access cutouts. The tankwall retainer 37 extends down and around the top of the main fish tank38, by one inch and has a four inch cross piece to add strength to thetop of the tank. On the back wall of the main fish tank 38, two inchesdown and seven inches in from the right side of the tank (from a frontview perspective) is the center of a 1.5″ diameter hole 41, that servesas access for the overflow plumbing into the back of the tank and allowsexcess water to drain out of the tank. The flat bottom of the main fishtank 39, and a bottom tank wall retainer 40, goes around the rim of thebottom of the tank raising the tank up off the shelf 45, by about ¾'s ofan inch to prevent condensation on the bottom of the tank. In the bottomof the main fish tank 39, there is a 1.5″ circular hole 42, seven inchesto the left of the right side of the tank that allows the main fish tank38, waste line (see FIG. 2) to enter into the bottom of the main fishtank 38. This allows for quick and easy draining of the main fish tank38.

FIG. 5 shows a complete wire-frame view of the aquarium water changingand stabilization system from a perspective to the left and slightlyabove the front of the aquarium. FIG. 5's numbered items point out thecomponents of the aquarium cabinet. The cabinet is made primarily of awood product. All shelves and wall sections of the cabinet are doweledtogether for support. The top of the cabinet 47, has a dimension of50″.times.22″.times.1″ as do all the shelves of the cabinet. The bottomof the cabinet 57, has a slightly larger dimension of52″.times.1″.times.23″ for additional stability. The upper left andright cabinet side panels 48, have a dimension of22″.times.14″.times.1″, are doweled into the top of the cabinet 47, andthe upper shelf (FIG. 4, 43). Two 24″.times.15″.times.0.3″ left andright upper cabinet doors 49, provide access to the water change tankcabinet area. Between and behind the upper front cabinet doors 49, is a3″.times.14.5″.times.1″ center upper front cabinet door support and stop63. All cabinet doors use appropriately placed hidden European hingesand have appropriately placed cabinet door handles.

On the front of the cabinet and doweled into the bottom of the uppercabinet shelf (FIG. 4, 43), is a 48.25″.times.2.6″.times.1″ wood productpanel 51. Also, below the upper cabinet shelf (FIG. 4, 43), are a leftand right mid cabinet side panels 54, that have a dimension of22″.times.35.5″.times.1″ and are doweled into the upper cabinet shelf(FIG. 4, 43) and lower cabinet shelf (FIG. 4, 45). Each of these leftand right mid cabinet side panels 54, have two 7″.times.6″.times.1″cutouts who's both upper right hand corners begin at 1.8″ down from thetop of the mid cabinet side panel 54, and three inches and 12 and a halfinches respectfully from the right side of the mid cabinet side panel54. These cutouts provide access to each side of the main fish tankcabinet area. Each of these mid cabinet side panel cutouts are coveredwith relatively small 8″.times.7″.times.0.3″ cabinet doors 50, that useappropriately placed hidden European hinges and cabinet door handles.Approximately ¼″ below the front cabinet panel 51, is a swing up frontaccess panel 53, that has a dimension of 48.6″.times.10.8″.times.0.3″and is connected to the mid cabinet side panels 54, with metal pins 52,that allow this front access panel 53, to swing up and provide access tothe front of the main fish tank. When this panel 53, is in the downposition, it provides a pleasing aesthetic look to the front of theaquarium cabinet by blocking the view into the interior plumbing andopen back of the aquarium.

In FIG. 5, at rear of the mid cabinet section is a left and right midsection “L” strut 62. Each of these struts 62 consists of two pieces ofwood product, 3″.times.35.5″.times.1″ and 5″.times.35.5″.times.1″ thatare doweled and glued together at right angles for strength. The3″.times.35.5″.times.1″ side of these struts are attached to theinterior wall of the mid cabinet side panels 54, with at least fourappropriately placed #6 gauge wood screws.

The lower portion of the aquarium cabinet is designed to allow room 64,for normal aquarium filtration system hardware. At rear of the lowercabinet section is another set of left and right lower section “L”struts 60. Each of these struts 60 consists of two pieces of woodproduct, 3″.times.26″.times.1″ and 5″.times.26″.times.1″ that aredoweled and glued together at right angles for strength. The3″.times.26″.times.1″ side of these lower section “L” struts 60, areattached to the interior wall of the lower left and right side cabinetside panels 55, with at least four appropriately placed #6 gauge woodscrews. These lower cabinet side panels 55, have a dimension of22″.times.26″.times.1″ and are doweled into the lower cabinet shelf(FIG. 4, 45) and the cabinet bottom 57. On all of the back-facing fiveinch wide piece of “L” struts in the mid and lower cabinet sections 62 &60, that are flush with the backend of the aquarium cabinet side panelsand shelves, there are 0.5″.times.0.5″.times.1″ bolt holes 61, thatallow for 7/16″ diameter bolts or #30 gauge self anchoring wood screwsto be attached through the back of the aquarium cabinet to the buildingwall where the aquarium is located. The “L” strut bolt holes are locatedfour inches from the top and bottom of the struts and are centered inthe back-facing five inch wide piece of the “L” strut. These boltsensure a secure and stable aquarium that will not tip over or sway whenproperly bolted to the building wall behind the aquarium cabinet. On thefront side of the lower part of the aquarium cabinet are two slot vented24″.times.26″.times.0.3″ left and right lower cabinet filtration systemaccess doors 56. There are eight equally spaced23″.times.0.45″.times.0.3″ slots 65, that start at about eighteen inchesdown and are centered on each lower cabinet door. These front lowercabinet doors are attached to the cabinet by appropriately placed hiddenEuropean hinges. Appropriately placed cabinet door handles must be onthe all cabinet doors for easy opening. Between and behind the lowerfront cabinet doors 56, is a 6″.times.26″.times.1″ center lower frontcabinet door support and stop 58.

FIG. 6 is a sectional right side view of the aquarium plumbing only thatallows conditioned and stabilized water from the water change tank (FIG.4, 32) to flow into the lower main fish tank (FIG. 4, 38). This sectionof plumbing starts with a ¾″ double threaded bulkhead fitting 19, thatis inserted down into the plumbing access hole located on the bottom ofthe water change tank (see FIG. 4). This bulkhead 19, is connected toone of two ¾″ diameter segments of vertical pipe 20 which includes a ¾″check valve 21 in the middle. The total length of segments 19 and 20 is3.5 inches. At the bottom of the lower pipe segment 20, is a ¾″ elbow 22that points towards the back of the aquarium at a 90.degree. angle andis attached to horizontal segments of ¾″ pipe 23 that has a ¾″ ballvalve socket 24, in the middle. Segments 23 and 24 have a total lengthof three inches. Attached to the end of the back portion of segments 23and 24 is another ¾″ elbow that points 90.degree. downward and isattached to a nine inch vertical segment of ¾″ pipe 26. The bottom endof this nine inch vertical segment of pipe 26, is attached to a ¾″ elbow27, that points towards the front of the aquarium at a 90.degree. angleand is attached to a horizontal 1.5″ length of ¾″ diameter pipe 28. Atthe front end of this horizontal segment of pipe 28, is a ¾″ elbow 29,that points downward at a 90.degree. angle and directs the water flowingout of this plumbing system onto a splash guard 30, to prevent splashingwithin the main fish tank when this plumbing is in use. The splash guard30, is attached to the back main fish tank wall centered ½″ below theelbow 29.

1. A system for introducing fluids into an aquarium, comprising: acontainer for containing fluids that are at least one of treated orintroduced into the aquarium; an input conduit for introducing thefluids into the container from an existing water feed; a connectingconduit for conducting the fluids into the aquarium via a gravity feed,the connecting conduit having a flow direction limiting apparatus forensuring that the fluids do not flow into the container and a flowregulator for regulating a volume of flow of the fluids; and a drainageconduit for draining fluids from the aquarium, the drainage conduitensuring that the fluids in at least one of the aquarium or thecontainer do not exceed a predetermined level, wherein a flow of thefluids between the container and the aquarium is only from the containerto the aquarium.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the drainage conduitis connected to an existing external sewage line.
 3. The system of claim1, wherein the input conduit is a pipe.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein the connecting conduit is a pipe.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein the drainage conduit is a pipe.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein the container is an auxiliary aquarium.
 7. The system of claim1, further comprising a fluid treater for treating the fluids in thecontainer.
 8. A system for introducing fluids into an aquarium,comprising: a container for containing the fluids that are at least oneof treated or introduced into the aquarium; means for introducing thefluids into the container from an existing water feed; means forconducting the fluids into the aquarium via a gravity feed, theconnecting conduit having a flow direction limiting apparatus forensuring that the fluids do not flow into the container and a flowregulator for regulating a volume of flow of the fluids; and means fordraining fluids from the aquarium, the drainage conduit ensuring thatthe fluids in at least one of the aquarium or the container do notexceed a predetermined level, wherein a flow of the fluids between thecontainer and the aquarium is only from the container to the aquarium.9. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for treating thefluids in the container.
 10. A method for introducing fluids into anaquarium, comprising: introducing the fluids into a container from anexisting water feed; treating the fluids to achieve a state that issimilar to current fluids in the aquarium; draining at least some of thecurrent fluids from the aquarium to ensure that the fluids in at leastone of the aquarium or the container do not exceed a predeterminedlevel, and conducting the fluids into the aquarium via a gravity feedwhile ensuring that the fluids do not flow into the container andregulating a volume of flow of the fluids; wherein a flow of the fluidsbetween the container and the aquarium is only from the container to theaquarium.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the introducing is donevia a pipe.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the conducting is donevia a pipe.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the draining is done viadrainage conduit which is a pipe.
 14. The method of claim 13, whereinthe drainage conduit is connected to an existing external sewage line.15. The method of claim 10, wherein the container is an auxiliaryaquarium.